CHANGES IN SOIL PROPERTIES OF A CITRUS AGROECOSYSTEM INDUCED BY SEASON, AGE OF TREES AND SHEEP GRAZING

Authors

  • José Antonio Torres-Rivera
  • Eusebio Ortega-Jiménez
  • José Evaristo Pacheco-Velasco
  • Octavio Ruíz-Rosado
  • Epigmenio Castillo-Gallegos

Keywords:

Citrus sinensis, nutrients, earthworm, agroecosystems, natural renewable resources

Abstract

The effect of season, age of trees and Pelibuey sheep grazing on physical and chemical soil properties and earthworm populations were evaluated on a regosol eutric soil in Tlapacoyan, Veracruz, México, in a farm with 8 and 16 year-old orange trees (Citrus sinensis L. Osbeck) cv. Valencia during the spring and summer. Continuous sheep grazing during four years did not increase bulk density at 0-40 cm depth, decreased moisture content, increased P and K level, and increased earthworm populations from 85 to 237 individuals m-2. Soil moisture increased during the summer; therefore, electrical conductivity, pH, N, K and Ca were reduced as compared to the spring. The eight years-old plantation showed higher moisture, organic matter, N and P in the soil, but less K and Ca as compared to the 16 year-old one.

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Published

30-06-1999

Issue

Vol. 33 No. 2 (1999): 1999-abr-jun

Section

Natural Renewable Resources

License

Agrociencia is published every 45 days, in an English format, and it is edited by the Colegio de Postgraduados. Mexico-Texcoco highway Km. 36.5, Montecillo, Texcoco, Estado de México, CP 56264, Telephone (52) 5959284427. www.colpos.mx. Editor-in-Chief: Dr. Fernando Carlos Gómez Merino. Rights Reserved for Exclusive Use: 04-2021-031913431800-203, e-ISSN: 2521-9766, granted by the National Institute for Author Right.